Filing means for records, letters, and other documents.



A. VESTERLING.

FILING MEANS FOR RECORDS, LETTERS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1914.

1,142,643. I I Patented June 8,1915.

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IHE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHOTO-LITHO-I WAISHINGTDN. D. C.

A. VESTERLING.

FILING MEANS FOR RECORDS, LETTERS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS- APPLICATION FILED MAR-.23. 1914.

1,142,643. O T Patented June 8, 1915.

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'1 THE NORRIS PETERS CONIPHOTOQLITHUU WASHINGTON. D. C.

AUGUST VESTERLING, OF BATTERSEA PARK, LONDON, ENGLAND.

FILING, MEANS FOR RECORDS, LETTERS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 8,1915.

Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,808.

England, have invented certain new and useful Filing Means for Records, Letters, and other Documents, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in, or connected with, loose-leaf ledgers, account-books, pocket note-books and the like books, and to files and the like, for filing and holding letters and other loose papers and documents.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a loose-leaf book in which a number of sectional leaf-retaining rings are fitted in transverse slots formed in a member .fiXed inside the cover of the book, said rings being retained in said member by means of a rod or wire which passes through the member and through holes formed in the lower portions of the rings, and each of said rings comprising two sections one of which is formed at one of its ends with a reduced portion or pin fitted in a hole formed in the corresponding end of the other section to enable the first-mentioned section to be turned sideways out of the plane of the ring to open the latter, the other cooperating ends of the sections being shaped to snap into locking engagement to close the ring.

It has also been proposed to provide a sectional prong for loose-leaf books in which the cooperating ends of the prong are formed with similar projections and notches so that when the prong is closed said projections and notches coact to lock the same and offer resistance to the prongs being pulled apart by direct transverse force.

According to one feature of the present invention improved leaf-retaining rings or the like are provided for use with loose-leaf books, files and the like.

Another feature of the invention is that a loose-leaf book, file or the like is provided which may be used with a variable number of leaf-retaining rings or the like, and for this purpose the book, file or the like is fitted or formed with a holder or member having a plurality of transverse slots into which the rings or the like are adapted to be remov ably fitted and immovably secured by a rod or wire in such manner that their number and positions may be varied as desired and according to their size, the number of leaves or papers contained or to be filed therein and to the character of the paper.

A further feature of the invention is that the lower portion of each ring or the like is of such shape that it fits snugly in a slot in v the slotted member so as to be immovable therein, and that said lower portion is engaged by the wire or rod which passes over same.

Still another feature of the invention is that the lower portion of the ring or the like may be notched to receive or engage around the wire or rod and further prevent turning i i}; the ring or the like in the book, file or the The invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a suitable construction of the book or file, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows two views of one end of a leaf-retaining ring or the like, and Fig. 4 several views of the other end of said ring or the like, according to the preferred construction of the latter. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified construction of the block for holding the leaf-rings, and Fig. 6 an enlarged cross-sectional view on theline 8-8 of Fig. 5.

According to the invention, and as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the book or file is constructed so that it may be used with a varied number of removable leaf-re taining rings or the like. Each of the latter may be formed in two sections one 8 having a reduced portion or pin 9 at one end adapted to fit in a hole in the corresponding end of the other section 10, thus enabling the section 8 to be turned to one side on the other section 10 to enableleaves or papers to be filed in or removed from the book or file. The pin 9 may be secured in the end of the section 8 by means of a transverse pin driven through a hole in said pin 9 or by forcing part of the metal of said end of the section into a groove in the pin 9. Further the pin 9 may be pivotally secured in the corresponding end of the section 10 by oompres's ing part'of the metal of said end of the section into an annular groove in the end of the rately from the ring or the like and of.

stronger material such as-pianoforte wire to minimize the possibility of its snapping. The turning section 8 of the ring or the like is formed at its free end with a suitably shaped reduced portion to fit into the end of the other section 10 of the ring, or vice versa, within which end it is stopped both laterally and circumferentially and into which it is sprung.

The cover 11 of the book or file may be fitted with a second and inside cover formed of two slotted or periorated boards or sides each made in such manner that it forms an inner strip 12 and an outer flap 13 hinged together at 14, so that when the book or file is closed the two outer flaps 13 will be caused to ride and rise on the peripheries of the rings or the like and open out away from the back of the book, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and consequently push and lift the contents of the book or file along the rings or the like and prevent wedging of the same inside the book or file and the consequent fouling of the covers 11 of the latter which would tend to prevent closing of the book or file. The inside cover also enables the book or file to be closed quickly, prevents the leaves being torn at the perforations thereof, and enables large and thick books or files to be used. The slots or perforations 15 in the boards 1213 are of a correlative size, number and position with those punched in the leaves or other papers.

The rings or the like are retained in the book or file in such manner as to be quickly and easily removed replaced or varied in number and position, and when once in place, immovable upward or downward, forward and backward, sideward or rotationally. For this purpose a solid wooden, solid metal, hollow vent metal, or other slotted or recessed member, block, holder or strip 16, preferably made in longitudinal half-pieces, is provided. If solid, it may be fiXed to the covers 11 of the book or file by means of a back overlay 17 an inside underlay 17 and an inside overlay 17 b of cloth, leather or other suitable material, into the slots 18 of which block the lower portions of the rings or the like fit and over which back overlay 17 passes a rod or wire 19 through a longitudinal hole 20 formed in the block 16 so as to thread through the rings or the like and engage the inner faces of the lower portion of same as shown in Fig. 2. The lower portion of each ring may be tapered or pointed at its attached portion to provide a crotch or bend at the inner face of the ring to receive and engage with a wire 19 and prevent rotation of the ring or the like on the wire. The top surface of the block may be sloped as shown in Fig. 2, or be more or less fiat.

When at least two leaf-retaining rings or the like are used in the book or file one ring or the like is arranged to open in one direction while the other opens in the other direction, as shown in Fig. 1, in such manner that it is impossible for the contents of the book or file to slip off the rings or the like when the book or file is closed and should the rings or the like open of their own accord, the leaves or papers tending to keep the rings or the like closed. A traveler may remove one or more punched leaves from his order or other loose-leaf pocket book, fitted with rings or the like of the kind described, and file it or them in a filing book orv among leaves or papers of other sizes dealing with the particular item or subject.

The letters, records, documents or other papers are indexed in the book or file in usual or convenient manner, such as by side and top indicators.

If desired, circular or other shaped leafrings or the like may be used in place of the recessed circular or pear shaped rings shown in the drawings, in which case their lower portions might be notched to receive the wire 19 to prevent their turning in the book or file.

By recessing the lower portions of the leaf-rings and forming them of the' particular shape shown in Fig. 2, and the recesses 18 in the block 16 of a corresponding shape to snugly receive them, it will be understood how the rings are prevented from turning in said recesses and otherwise shifting inside the book or file when once looked therein by means of the wire 19.

By removing the wire 19 from the block 16 more or less leaf-rings or the like can be fitted in or removed from the book or file, or the positions of the rings or the like may be altered.-

In the preferred construction of the coacting ends of the leaf ring or the like shown in Figs. 3 and at, the end of the section 10 is split at 21 to enable the cooperating end of the section 8 to be sprung therein. The end of the section 10 is formed with a longitudinal bayonet slot 26 adapted to receive a longitudinal bayonet projection 27 formed on the section 8, and with a trans verse bayonet slot 28 adapted to receive a transverse bayonet projection 29 formed on the section 8. The slits21 may be straight instead of curved, if desired. By splitting and thus rendering the section ends springy said ends are restrained from opening either sideways or circumferentially by dropping the book or otherwise jarring the rings or the like.

It will be noted that the inner edges of the cover pieces 11 are so assembled on the back piece 16 and retained in place by the overlays 17 and 17 and the underlay 17 that any pressure on one or other of said cover-pieces merely tends to cause the back of the book or file to rock on the table or other support on which it is resting, thus preventing damage to the article.

Figs. 5 and 6 show one way in which the block or strip 16 may be formed of stamped sheet metal or other like material. Two shaped members 30 and 31 are formed with turned-over tongues or loops 32 and 33, respectively, and locked together by means of wires or rods 34 passed through said loops. The bottom member 30 is formed with a longitudinal upwardly projecting rib 35 substantially of rail cross-section in shape, said rib being cut away or notched at 36 at suitable intervals. The top member 31 is formed with slots 37 disposed above the cutaway parts 36 in the bottom member, and said slots and cut away parts are adapted to receive the lower portions of leaf-retaining rings or the like, the latter being retained in place by a rod or wire 19 passed through the rib 35 and threaded through the rings or the like. Any number of slots 37 and notches 36 may be provided according to requirements and to enable one, two three or more rings or the like to be fitted on the block.

It will be noted that the coacting ends of the rings or the like are of such formation that when closed no openings will be left or free edges exposed on the smooth surfaces of the rings or the like in or against which the leaves or papers thereon are liable to catch or be torn when being turned over.

The leaf rings or the like may be of various construction and shapes in cross-section for instance round, square or oval, and of tempered steel, German silver or other metal, according to their size.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated the preferred pearlike or recessed circular outline shape of the leaf-ring. Said shape is obtained by striking a semi-circle from the center a to form the top portion of the ring, and then by striking arcs from the centers 6 to form the side portions of the ring. Where the two side arcs approach one another the same are joined by a small circle to form the rounded lower position or end of the ring.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A loose-leaf book, file or the like provided with one or more removable rings,

prongs or the like leaf-retaining devices each of said devices being made with two or more sections one of which is formed at one of its ends with a reduced portion adapted to be sprung into and to fit in a lateral slot formed in one side of the corresponding end of the other or another section and against the side of which latter end it is stopped.

2. A loose leaf book, file, or the like having a plurality of removable leaf retaining devices and a strip or member provided with transverse slots for the reception of the said devices, said strip or member having a greater number of slots than the number of devices, and means for securing the said devices in the slots.

3. A loose leaf book, file, or the like including covers and a connecting back provided between the covers with a member or strip having a plurality of transverse slots, a plurality of leaf retaining rings removably fitted in the transverse slots, and a wire or rod carried by the member or strip and detachably securing the leaf retaining rings in the said slots and permitting one or more of the former to be used.

4. A loose leaf book, file, or the like including covers and a connecting back provided with a member or strip located between the covers and having a plurality of transverse slots, a plurality of leaf retaining rings removably fitted in the said slots, and a wire or rod carried by the said member or strip and threaded through the rings at the said Slots and retaining the said rings therein. v

5. A loose leaf book, file or the like having a strip or member provided with a plurality of transverse slots, leaf retaining rings arranged in the said slots and provided with a crotch or bend, and a wire or rod extending through the rings and engaging the same in the said crotches or bends.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. VESTERLING.

Witnesses J. S. ARKIER, FRANK BLAKEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

